SS Ahluwalia Takes Exception to Non-Inclusion of Nepali Language Option in State Bank of India Recruitment

1:45 PM

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SS Ahluwalia

Darjeeling MP SS Ahluwalia Takes Exception to Non-Inclusion of Nepali Language Option in State Bank of India Recruitment - Writes to Finance Minister

Darjeeling MP SS Ahluwalia has taken strong note of non-inclusion of Nepali language option in State Bank of India recruitment and has written to the Finance Minister as well as the Chairperson of SBI demanding inclusion of Nepali language option, and extending the application deadline to allow for youths from Darjeeling, Terai and Dooars region to complete the application formalities.

MP Shri. Ahluwalia has also demanded that Nepali being a national language of India, should be offered as an optional language in all states of NE and rest of India where a large number of ethnically Nepali people reside.

Here is the text of his letter to the Finance Minister.

To,
Shri. Arun Jaitley 
Hon’ble Finance Minister 
Government of India

Re: Exclusion of Nepali speaking candidates from SBI Recruitment

Dear Arun ji,
I want to draw your attention to the plight of the Gorkhali community in India, whose mother tongue is Nepali. Recently the SBI through the advertisement number CRPD/CR/2016-17/01 dated April 3, 2016 has sought applications for the post of Junior Associates (customer support and sales) for which there are close to 15000 vacancies that have opened up all over India, out of which around 2000 have opened up in the state of West Bengal.

When youths from my constituency logged online to apply for the post, they were taken aback to realize that the only linguistic option that they could chose for official language in the state of West Bengal was Bengali. Where as in Darjeeling, Terai and Dooars region majority of the people learn and speak Nepali and not Bengali.

Perhaps the SBI Human Resources Department is not aware of the fact that Nepali is one of the 22 National Languages of India that have been duly recognized as such, under the VIIIth Scheduled of our Constitution since 1992. It also seems that the SBI Human Resources Department is not aware of the fact that Nepali is one of the Official Languages of West Bengal along with Bengali and has been so since 1961.

In not allowing aspirants from Bengal to chose Nepali or any other official state languages – Hindi, Urdu etc, the State Bank of India has effectively disqualified those whose mother tongue is not Bengali, even before the recruitment process has begun.

I strongly feel that this is against the constitution guaranteed right of every national language being treated as equal, and also this is infringing upon the fundamental rights of my constituents to be able to chose their mother tongue, which is a recognized national language of India, as a linguistic option. I also feel that in not allowing the Gorkha aspirants to chose Nepali as a language option anywhere in India, the State Bank has turned them into a 2nd class citizen, whose language – even though recognized by our Constitution as one of the national languages – is actually not considered worthy of landing a job with a Government of India entity.

It is because of such instances of repeated discrimination, even by a Central government enterprise, the Gorkhas have been agitating for decades, asking for autonomy for themselves towards ensuring that they will not be discriminated against, on the basis of their language, ethnicity, or culture.

I therefore request you to kindly instruct the State Bank of India and all other Central government entities to ensure that Nepali language and other languages that are actually recognized as Official Language of our state should be made optional during the application process in West Bengal. In addition, Nepali should also be made optional in all the North Eastern states, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Delhi where Nepali speaking people reside in a large number.

Also, since this application process started from 5th of April, 2016 and is only going to last till the 25th of April, all the applicants from my constituency have not been able to fill up their forms so far, due to the linguistic barrier.

Given this, I request you to kindly instruct the State Bank of India to extend the date by when the application can be filled in to 15th of May 2016, so that all those youths from my constituency who have been deprived from applying for these said posts are able to do so.

I look forward to a positive response from you at the earliest.
Kindest regards

SS Ahluwalia 
MP, Darjeeling 

Via TheDC

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Gorkha Radio Programme ‘Gham Chhaya’ launching in Mussorie on April 03, 2016

8:51 AM

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nepali

The Gorkha community in Uttarakhand constitutes 12-15  lakhs of the population. In the year 2015, the community came together for the first time to celebrate 200 years of Gorkhas in India from where began their legacy of bravery and debt to the salt. The two hundred year celebrations (Gorkha Dwi Shatabdi Mahotsav) which was aimed to bring unity and a resurgence of Gorkha history and culture to the fore, was a huge success. It was also the only kind of such a celebration conducted by the Gorkha community themselves anywhere in the world. Organised over four days, the events saw more than 10-12,000 people everyday, brought to one platform Uttarakhand’s Governor, the Chief Minister, as well as the Chief Minister of Sikkim.

The biggest gains of all from the Mahotsav was to showcase the enormous untapped talent of young Gorkhas who were singers, musicians, poets, historians and commentators. After the Dwi Shatabdi Mahotsav, the Government of Uttarakhand set up the Gorkha Kalyan Parishad for the Gorkhas and appointed Lt. Gen Shakti Gurung, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, VSM, as its Chairman with a Cabinet rank. It was the first acknowlegment by the government of the aspirations of the community which had for long felt marginalised in every way.

The dual success of the Mahotsav and the setting up of the Gorkha Kalyan Parishad  gave rise to the felt need to take forward the gains of the Mahotsav and resurgence of pride of being a Gorkha through a radio programme. The aim was to continue to inform, educate and entertain the community to know their culture, history, folklore and songs. Elsewhere across India and the world a more dominant culture was slowly overpowering Gorkha culture and language, and it was felt that through a radio station the young as well as the community at large could connect with their culture, ways and history.

This is how community radios across the world have become the mouth piece of the community as well as the repository of their culture. It is known that the Government of India through its I&B Ministry, will allow the setting up of 400 community radios all over India. Currently there are only 160 community radios which are running very successfully. The aim of the Gorkha Kalyan Parishad is to ultimately have a Gorkha community radio station which will broadcast all programmes in Nepali, the language of the Gorkhas.

While having a community radio is a long term goal for which the community intends to raise money over a period of time, The Gorkha Kalyan Parishad has already set up a recording studio and tied up with Radio Khushi, a community radio, to broadcast our programmes. Radio Khushi broadcasts from Mussoorie and has a wide reach, covering the whole of Dehradun, Rishikesh, Mussoorie, Haridwar, parts of Saharanpur, Rorkee, Ponta Sahib, Narendernagar, parts of Tehri, Pauri and Bijnor.

Our Nepali radio Programme is called “Gham Chhaya” which means “Sun and Shade.” Already the promos are running every hour on Radio Khushi. The initial tie up is to broadcast an hour long programme two days of week – Sunday from 6-7 PM and Wednesday 9-10 AM.  Both these are prime time slots. The first programme gets aired on Sunday, 3rd April, 2016. Over a period of time we intend taking up more airtime so as to broadcast more days in a week.

Via thegorkha

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SAHITYA AKADEMI LITERARY PROGRAM ON INDIAN NEPALI LITERATURE HELD IN MANIPUR

8:26 AM

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nepali

Writes: Dinesh Sharma

Sahitya Akademi, Delhi and Nepali Sahitya Parishad, Manipur jointly hosted a one-day literary meet "Swatantratottar Bharatiya Nepali Kathako Pravriti" with a panel discussion on post-Independence Indian Nepali Literature, on 27th March, 2016. The program was held at Charhajare, a tiny Gorkha village in Senapati District bordering the hill district and the valleys of Manipur.

Shri Devendra Kumar Devesh, Officer on Special Duty (OSD), Sahitya Academy Delhi and Shri Prem Pradhan, Nepali Language Advisory board (Sahitya Akademi) attended the program as Guests of Honor. Shri Lok Bahadur Basnet, President-Nepali Sahitya Parishad, and Smt. Durga Devi, retired Professor D.M College, Manipur also attended the program.

Other dignitaries present during the occassion were P.V Shelman from North-East Centre for Oral and Tribal Literature (NECOL), Manipur University and Shri Biswajit Roy from Kolkata, Shri Arjun Pradhan from Darjeeling, Sukraj Diyali from Silliguri, and Gopichandra Pradhan from Darjeeling.

PROGRAM ON INDIAN NEPALI LITERATURE HELD IN MANIPUR

The discussion of the one-day program centered around the changing trends in post-independence Indian Nepali literature. Ms. Pushpa Sharma, Lecturer Presidency College, Manipur presented a paper on "Swatantratottar Bharatiya Nepali kathako prabriti", a discussion on the changing trends in Indian Nepali short story.

Dr Tankanath Khatiwada, Lecturer Presidency College presented a paper on "Swatantratottar Bharatiya Nepali Sahitya maa Yuddhha", a discussion on post-independence Nepali war literature.

Shri Milan Bantawa from Darjeeling presented his paper on 'Swatantratottar Bharatiya Nepali Katha ani Uttar Adhunikta', a discussion on post-modern elements in Indian Nepali Literature.
The literary program was organized by Nepali Sahitya Parishad, Manipur and was supported by students, organizations and individuals from various Gorkha organizations across the state.

Calling the event a huge success, Kritimani Khatiwada, General Secretary stated that “this is perhaps the first time that a program of this scale was directly organized in collaboration with Sahitya Akademi, Delhi. The contribution of Manipur Gorkha scholars to Indian Nepali literature is immense and this is a fruitful recognition of the same.” While thanking all organizations and individuals and organizations for the success of the program, Khatiwada hopes that Manipur Gorkha community continues to witness more such programs in coming days and generate more interest amongst the youths and students towards the language.

POSTSCRIPT: In written records, the first Indian Nepali literature came out of Manipur as “Manipurko Ladaiko Sabai” in 1893 by Tulachand Aale . Nepali Sahitya Parishad, Manipur plans to hold an elaborate celebration of the literary milestone with its 125 years’ celebration in 2018. The proposal has been forwarded to Sahitya Akademi and the Parishad humbly request the support and wishes of everyone for this landmark celebration.

[Pictures courtesy: Rahul Rai]

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गोजमुमोले पैसा र डर देखाएर जनतामा प्रभाव बनाउने कोसिस गरिरहेको छ - अनमोल प्रसाद

2:21 PM

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Politics

गोजमुमोले पैसा र डर देखाएर जनतामा प्रभाव बनाउने कोसिस गरिरहेको जन आन्दोलन पार्टीका प्रवक्ता अनमोल प्रसादको आरोप छ। जापको कार्यालयमा सम्पन्न पत्रकार सम्मेलनमा उनले मोर्चाको स्पष्ट नाम नलिएर पनि इशारा इशारैमा यस्तो आरोप लगाएका हुन्। जाप कार्यकर्ता र समर्थकहरूले मोर्चामा प्रवेश लिने घटना बढेको विषयलाई केन्द्र गरी पत्रकारहरूले सोधेको प्रश्नको उत्तर दिँदै जाप प्रवक्ताले मोर्चाले बाडिरहेको पैसा थाप्न जनता हिचकिचाउन नहुने तर भोट भने योग्य मान्छेलाई दिने बयान दिएका छन।

"हाम्रो विरोधी दलको दुइटा पुँजी छ। एउटा पुँजी चाहिँ पैसा हो अनि अर्को हो भय। योबाहेक उनीहरूको न घोषणापत्र छ न भविष्यको दिशा छ। उनीहरूले पैसा मजाले खर्च गरिरहेका छन्। तर डरको राजनीति गरेर लाभ लिने कुरामा भने मोर्चा पछि पर्दैछ। राजनीतिमा तानातान हुन्छ। तर हाम्रो अपिल के छ जनतालाई भने तपाईँहरूलाई लोभ देखाउँछ। काम र पैसा दिएर जनतालाई प्रभावित पार्ने काम भएको सुनिदैँछ। त्यो पैसा थाप्नोस, त्यो जनताकै पैसा हो। अहिले जन आन्दोलन पार्टी बिकल्प भएर अघि आएपछि नै यो पैसा निस्केको हो। पैसा थाप्नोस तर यो भोट पनि ठिक ठाउँमा हाल्नोस्" जाप प्रवक्ताले भने।

उनले तृणमूल कङ्ग्रेसको उम्मेद्वार सूचीमा जाप अध्यक्ष डा हर्कबहादुर छेत्रीको नाम आएको घटना अनौठो भए पनि यस्तो गल्ती अस्वभाविक भने नभएको बताएका छन। उनले यस घटनाको आन्तरिक छानबीन चलिरहेको जानकारी दिँदै अहिलेसम्मको जाँचमा कुनै दोषपूर्ण कारण देखा नपरेको बताए।

Anmol Prasad JAP

उनले भने, "जापले आन्तरिक जाँच जारी राखेको छ। यो अनौठो कुरा आघि आयो तर जाँचमा अहिलेसम्म दोष लाग्ने र कार्वाहीको हदमै जानु पर्ने अवस्था आएको छैन। हामीले यो दलको संरचना यसरी निर्माण गरेका छौं कि नेतृत्वबाट गल्ती भयो भने पनि हामी एक अर्कालाई सुधार्छौं। मेरो गोरूको बाह्रा टाका भनेर सुप्रिमो भएर बस्दैनौँ हामी। मलाई डा छेत्रीमाथि पूर्ण विश्वास छ"

दलका प्रवक्ता अनमोल प्रसादले जन आन्दोलन पार्टीले आफ्नो दलको प्रार्थीको नाम र चुनावी घोषणापत्र एकसाथ जारी गर्ने बताएका छन्। उनले घोषणापत्र बनाउने काम भएको बताउँदै चाढै नै दलले आफ्ना उम्मेद्वारहरूको नामको घोषणा गर्ने बताएका छन्। 'चार पाँच दिनभित्र हामी घोषणा गर्नेछौं" जाप प्रवक्ताले भने।

उनले तृणमूल कङ्ग्रेसले वेबसाइटबाट जाप अध्यक्ष डा हर्कबहादुर छेत्रीको नाम हटाइ सकेपछि सारा अन्योल स्पष्ट भएको दावी गर्दै भने, "डा हर्कबहादुर छेत्री नै हाम्रो दलका उम्मेद्वार हुन्। मुख्यमञ्त्री चुनाउ प्रचारमा आउँदैछिन, उनले सायद बयान दिएर यो कुरा स्पष्ट पार्नेछिन। यसको लागि हामीले प्रतीक्षा गर्नै पर्ने हुन्छ। किनभने टीएमसी हाम्रो पार्टी होइन, उनीहरूले के गर्छ गर्दैन यो उनीहरूलाई नै घोषणा गर्नु दिनु उचित हुनेछ। हाम्रो तर्फबाट चैँ हाम्रो जुन अडान थियो कि डा हर्कबहादुर छेत्री हाम्रो दलका अध्यक्ष हुन् र उनी नै हाम्रा उम्मेद्वार हुन भनेर जुन अडान लिएका थियौँ त्यो स्पष्ट हुँदै जादैँछ। खरसाङ र दार्जीलिङमा प्रार्थी दिने कुरा अहिले विचाराधीन छ। हामी यो चैँ हर्कबहादुर छेत्रीको नामसँगै घोषणा गर्न सक्दैनौं। यो चैँ हामी विस्तारै उजागर गर्दै जानेछौं। उम्मेद्वार दिने न दिने अहिले तय भएको छैन" प्रसादले चुनाउ आयोगमा पार्टीको पञ्जिकरणको प्रक्रिया पुगेको बताउँदै पञ्जिकृत दलको रूपमा चुनाउ लड्ने आशा राखेको बताए।

"हामीले चुनाउ आयोगलाई भनेका छौं कि हामी नयाँ दल हौं अनि मुखैमा चुनाउ छ। यसकारण हाम्रो दलको पञ्जिकरणको प्रक्रिया चाढै गरियोस् भनेर अर्जी गरेका छौं। दिल्लीका साथीहरूले यसको फलोअप गर्दैछन्। पञ्जीकरण भयो भने एउटा पञ्जिकृत पार्टीकै हैसियतमा चुनाउ लड्छौँ हामी। चुनाउ अघि पञ्जिकरण हुन सकेन भने निर्दलको रूपमा चुनाउ लड्छौं। मलाई लाग्छ, जनतामा हाम्रो अस्तित्व स्थापित भइसकेको छ। हामी किन र केका लागि निस्केका हौं भनेर जनताले बुझिसकेका छन"

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Nepali-medium college in the Darjeeling hills PromisesTMC manifesto

11:10 AM

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Trinamool Congress

Promises: College for hills & varsity

Writes AVIJIT SINHA

Siliguri, March 11: The Trinamul manifesto has promised a Nepali-medium college in the Darjeeling hills, a new campus of Aliah University and a second agricultural university among other things for north Bengal.

The ruling party also promised to set up a centre of Netaji Subhas Open University in Jalpaiguri.

"A new campus of the Aliah University will be opened in North Bengal's minority-inhabited area....agricultural University would be established in North Bengal," says the manifesto. Right now, north Bengal has an agricultural university, Uttarbanga Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, in Cooch Behar district.

The manifesto mentions a silk park in Malda where "many crores of rupees would be invested for construction" and wi-fi connectivity in Siliguri and Malda.

In the "Jangalmahal, Hills and Tea Estates" chapter, the document claims that the GTA has been allotted Rs 1,018 crore.

However, the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha took objection to the Rs 1,018 crore claim.

"We don't know whether Trinamul is speaking about non-planned expenditure. But as far as funds under plan heads are concerned, the GTA has not received so much money from the state government. Trinamul should show copies of government orders on the allocation of the funds," said Binay Tamang, the assistant secretary of the Morcha.

TMC manifesto

Other than the Nepali-medium college, there is no mention of any other project for the hills. The manifesto doesn't make any promise with regard to tea plantation labourers though it reeled off the relief measures the government has provided to them so far.

"The manifesto shows Trinamul is least bothered about tea garden workers, particularly those in the sick and closed plantations. Not a single word has been written on closed tea gardens, fixing minimum wages for tea workers and alternative job opportunities for their dependants," said Mani Kumar Darnal, the joint general secretary of Intuc-affiliated National Union of Plantation Workers.


Telegraph

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On International Mother Language Day - GJM Calls Out TMC Hypocrisy

11:32 AM

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West Bengal

Yesterday while commemorating the International Mother Language Day, Gorkha Janmukti Morcha came down heavily on Trinmool Congress for their lack of respect towards the Nepali language.

Speaking to the press, GJM leader Mr. Binoy Tamang said, "Bangladesh demanded independence when Pakistan imposed Urdu on them instead of allowing Bengali as the main language... the Gorkhas in Darjeeling hills, Terai and Dooars have been similarly deprived and discriminated against, by the West Bengal government..."

Mr. Tamang stated, "GTA uses Nepali as the 1st language, while Bengal has not even included Nepali as an optional language in WBCS. This shows utter lack of disrespect not only towards the Nepali speaking people, but also towards the Indian constitution which recognizes Nepali as one of the national languages of India under the 8th Scheduled. We all have to fight for our linguistic rights and speak out against all forms of linguistic discrimination and imperialism, and for GJM party to conserve and propagate Nepali language is not only a priority but also one of our main goals."

Mr. Benoy Tamang 

Taking pot-shots at JAP President Dr. Harka Bh Chettri, Mr. Benoy Tamang said, "When Dr. Rohit Sharma was Kurseong MLA he had raised this issue in Bengal legislature... GJM had also raised this issue numerous times when CM Mamata visited Darjeeling and every time they assured us that they will include Nepali language soon, they didn't... Though Harka ji claims that he raised the non-inclusion of Nepali language in WBCS issue in the last session of legislature... he hasn't pressed for it enough, and he is not serious about Nepali language... Even hill TMC hasn't said a word on this issue... this shows their lack of commitment and apathy towards the Nepali language and hill people."

Mr. Tamang added, "we request all the people from our region, to raise their voices against continued discrimination of our Mother tongue - Nepali in West Bengal."


TheDC

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"सानो सानो राज्य गठनको समर्थन गर्दैछौ र गोर्खाल्यन्डको मांगलाई पनि समर्थन गर्छौ" - श्री अरबिन्द केजरिवाल

11:48 AM

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nepali

दिनांक १८ फरवरी २०१६ बिहीवार को दिन गोर्खा फाउनडेशनको प्रतिनिधीहरुले दिल्लीका मुख्य मन्त्री श्रीमान अरबिन्द केजरिवालज्युलाई वहाँको बासस्थानमा भेटघाट गरे । उक्त भेटघाटमा गोर्खा फाउनडेशनको प्रतीनिधीहरुले मुख्य मन्त्रीलाई केही मांगहरुको बिन्ती पत्र सुम्पे । मुख्य मन्त्रीज्युले गोर्खा फाउनडेशनको बिन्ती पत्रलाई ध्यान पूर्वक पडी दिनु भयो साथै वहाँले चाडै यस बिषयमा समाधान गरी दिने बचन दिनु भयो। मुख्य मन्त्रीले यस बिषयमा सचीवालयलाई र बिशेष सचिवलाई पनि तुरन्त निर्देश दिनु भयो । वहाँले आफ्नो बिशेष सचीव सुश्री अस्वथी मुर्लीधरण सित नियमित रुपमा संपर्क गर्नु भन्नु भयो। मुख्य मन्त्रीज्युले दिल्ली सरकारको बिभिन्न बिभागहरुमा १५००० नोकरीहरु छन, गोर्खा दाजु भाई दिदी बहिनीहरुले पनि यसमा मौका पाउने छ भनेर बचन दिनु भयो र नोकरीको निम्ती नामहरु पठाइ दिने गोर्खा फाउनडेशनलाई जिम्मा लगाउनु भयो।

मुख्य मन्त्रीलाई छुट्टै राज्य गोर्खाल्यान्डलाई समर्थन मांग गर्दा, वहाँले भन्नु भयो, हामी त पहिले देखीनै सानो सानो राज्य गठनको समर्थन गर्दैछौ र गोर्खाल्यन्डको मांगलाई पनि समर्थन गर्छौ भन्नु भयो।

आउँदो दिनमा सम्पन्न हुने सेमिनरमा वहाँको स्वंय सहभागी हुने बचन दिनु भयो अपितु वहाँ न आउन सके पार्टीबाट कोही बरिषठ साथी पठाउने बचन दिनु भयो । वहाँले चाडैनै दिल्लीमा गोर्खाहरुको निम्ती एउटा कमयुनिटी हल बनाइ दिनु हुने आशवाशन पनि दिनु भयो। दिल्ली बसेका सबै गोर्खाहरुको सुरक्षाको मांग गर्दा वहाँले भन्नु भयो गोर्खाहरुको सुरक्षा र मानमर्यदाको निम्ती हामी चिन्तित छौ र कुनै घट्ना व असुबिधा भए सिधै मुख्य मन्त्री वा बिशेष सचिव सित संपर्क गर्नु भन्नु भयो । हामी पुर्णरुपले सहयोग गर्ने आश्वासन दिनु भयो ।

Supporting the formation of smaller states we also support the demand for Gorkhaland - Arvind Kejriwal

प्रतिनिधि टोलिमा सघन मोक्तान, युधिषटिर शाह, लोप्सँग लामा, डा० बिनु सुन्दास, निरज छेत्री, डि० के० प्रधान, एन्ड्रु गुरुङ अनी श्रीमती रेबेका राई उपस्थित थिए । सबैले बारी-बारी आ-आफ्नो पक्ष मुख्य मन्त्रीसित राख्नु भयो ।

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जीटीएले दिएको अल्टिमेटम पूरा अब हामी आफैले सोच्ने समय आएको छ-जअकस

5:13 PM

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nepali

अस्थायी कर्मचारीहरूको स्थायीकरणको निम्ति जीटीएले दिएको 21 दिनको अल्टिमेटम पूरा भएको छ। 21 दिनभित्र जीटीएले कर्मचारीहरूको स्थायीकरणको निम्ति समपूर्ण कागजपत्र राज्य सरकारलाई पठाउने निर्णय लिएको थियो। गत 11 जनवरीका दिन जीटीए, जममुक्ति अस्थायी कर्मचारी सङ्गठन अनि सरकारी अधिकारीहरूमाझ बसेको बैठकपछि जीटीएले दिएको अल्टिमेटम पूरा भइसक्दा समेत स्थायीकरणको दिशामा ठोस् पहल नभएपछि आज जनमुक्ति अस्थायी कर्मचारी सङ्गठन महकुमा समितिले एक पत्रकार सम्मेलनको आयोजना गर्दै जीटीएले आफ्नो वचन पूरा गर्नुपर्ने माग गरेको छ। पत्रकार सम्मेललाई सम्बोधन गर्दै सङ्गठनका अध्यक्ष केसी राईले भने, यदि सरकारले स्थायीकरण गरेन भने कानून लगाएर भएपनि स्थायीकरण गर्ने जीटीएले प्रतिश्रुति दिएको थियो। अब जीटीएले आफ्नो बचन पूरा गर्नुपर्छ। हामी जीटीएसित आशावादी छौँ।

उनी अनुसार जीटीए प्रमुख विमल गुरूङसित गत 27 जनवरीका दिन पनि सङ्गठनको बैठक भएको थियो। यस बैठकमा राज्य सरकारले स्थायीकरण नगरे जीटीएले नै कानुनी रूपमा गर्ने गुरूङको प्रतिश्रुति थियो। अब 21 दिन पूर्ण भइसक्दा पनि स्थायीकरणको प्रक्रिया शुरू नभएको कारण जीटीएले आफ्नो वचन पूरा गर्नुपर्ने सङ्गठनको माग हो।

Jamukti Asthai Karmachari Sangathan members

उनले भने, स्थायीकरणको निम्ति हामीले धरै वर्षदेखि आन्दोलन गरिरह्यौँ, सरकारसित कुराकानी गरिह्यौँ। अब जीटीएले आफ्नो वचन पूरा गरेर हामीलाई न्याय दिनुपर्छ।
यसअवधि उनले जीटीएले स्थायीकरण गर्ननसके सङ्गठनले दल परिवर्तन गर्ने चर्चालाई अस्वीकार गरेपनि आवश्यक परे कालेबुङले आफ्नोनिम्ति केही सोच्न बाध्य हुनपर्ने सङ्केत गरेका छन्। राईले भने, हामी जीटीएका कर्मचारी हौँ। यसैले हामीले जीटीएबाट नै स्थायीकरणको आशा गरेको कारण अहिले दल परिवर्तन गर्नतर्फ सोच बनाएका छैनौँ। तर यदि हाम्रो सङ्गठनको केन्द्रिय समितिले पनि ठिकसित सोचिदिँदैन भने हामीले कालेबुङको निम्ति पनि सोच्नपर्ने बाध्यता आउनसक्छ।

उनले अझ भने अनुसार अस्थायी कर्मचारीहरूलाई न्याय दिलाउँछौँ भन्ने सोच बनाएका कारण नै आज उनीहरूले सङ्गठनलाई नेतृत्व दिइरहेका छन्। तर उनीहरूलाई न्याय दिन नसकेका कारण नेतृत्वपङ्क्तीमा रहेकाहरू आज असुविधामा परिरहेको राईले बताए।

कर्मचारीहरूले नोकरी गर्नथालेको10देखि 13 वर्ष पुगेपछि प्रत्येक तीन वर्षमा 5 प्रतिशत इन्क्रिमेन्ट लागु हुने नियम छ। यसैले जीटीएले इन्क्रिमेन्ट बढाइदिने कुरा गरेपनि इन्क्रिमेन्टको माग सङ्गठनको होइन। सङ्गठन स्थायीकरणको पक्षमा नै अडिक रहेको राईले बताए।

Via Kalimpongpost

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गोर्खाल्यान्डको लागि जनमत भएको गोजमुमोले गोर्खाल्याण्ड ल्याउनुपर्ने हो- अमर लामा

5:00 PM

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Politics

एक साता अघि अस्तित्वमा आएको नयाँ राजनैतिक दल जन आन्दोलन पार्टी (जाप)-का शीर्ष नेताहरूले अलग राज्यको मुद्दामा मोर्चा नेताहरूको टिप्पणीको प्रतिक्रिया दिएका छन। दलको आन्तरिक साङ्गठिक बैठकमा भाग लिन कालेबुङ आएका जापका ब्युरो प्रमुख डा महेन्द्र पी लामा, सदस्यहरू अनमोल प्रसाद, अमर लामाले मोर्चा नेताहरूले जापको मुद्दा र कार्यक्रमहरूबारे टिप्पणी गर्नको साटो आफ्नो दलको मुद्दा र जनतासँग गरेका वचनहरू पूरा गर्न आफ्नो उर्जा लगाउनु पर्ने सुझाउ दिएका छन्। आन्तरिक बैठकपछि आयोजित पत्रकार सम्मेलनमा दलका अध्यक्ष डा हर्कबहादुर छेत्री, ब्युरो प्रमुख डा महेन्द्र पी लामा, अनमोल प्रसाद, अमर लामाले पत्रकारहरूले सोधेको प्रश्नहरूको उत्तर दिएका थिए। गत 27 जनवरीक दिन कालेबुङमा भएको जनसभामा मोर्चा नेतृत्वले जापको घोषणापत्रमा गोर्खाल्यान्डको मुद्दा उल्लेख नभएको दावी गर्दै आलोचना गरेका थिए। दलको ब्युरो चेयरमेन डा लामाले यो सम्बन्धमा प्रतिक्रिया जनाउँदै भने, “केन्द्रमा त्यही दल छ जसले तीनवटा नयाँ राज्यहरूको गठन गरिसकेको छ। गत विधानसभा चुनामा बिजेपीले आन्ध्रप्रदेशमा एक भोट, दुइ स्टेटको नारामा चुनाउ लडेकै हो। त्यही बिजेपीको उम्मेद्वारलाई यहाँबाट लोकसभा चुनाउ जिताएर पठाइयो। अहिले संसदमा गोर्खाल्यान्डको बील ल्याउन यो दललाई के समस्या छ? मोर्चा नेताहरूले कालेबुङका जनतालाई दिग्भ्रमित पार्ने कुराहरू किन गर्छन्? उनीहरू यति ठूलो ठूलो कुरा गर्छन तर खास गर्नुपर्ने कुरै गर्दैनन। मोर्चाले बिजेपीलाई संसदमा गोर्खाल्याण्डको बील ल्याउन लगावोस्। केन्द्रीय विश्वविद्यालय, मेडिकल संस्थानहरूको बील ल्याउन लगावोस्। कुरै सकिहाल्छ नि” यता, ब्युरो सदस्य अमर लामाले पनि आफ्नो प्रतिक्रिया जाहेर गर्दै चुनाउमा जनमत पाएर गएको दलले भर्खरै अस्तित्वमा आएको दललाई गोर्खाल्यान्डको निम्ति दबाउ दिनु युक्तिसङ्गत नहुने बताएका छन। गोजमुमोले गोर्खाल्याण्डको निम्ति जनमत प्राप्त गरेको कारण यसको गठनलाई लिएर पनि यही दल अधिक जिम्मेवार र जवाफदेहि हुनु पर्ने लामाको भनाइ छ।

“जुन दलको आफ्नो मेनिफेष्टो छैन, त्यही दलका नेताहरूले हाम्रो मेनिफेष्टोलाई माइक्रोसकोप लगाएर हेर्ने के काम छ? बिजेपीको घटक दल बनेर मोर्चाले अहलुवालियालाई सांसद बनाएर पठाएको हो। मोर्चालाई 2019सम्म गोर्खाल्यान्डको लागि जनमत छ। घटक दल भएको नाताले प्रधानमञ्त्री, गृहमञ्त्री, सांसद सबै उनीहरूकै छ। उनीहरूले चैँ वास्तवमा गोर्खाल्यान्ड ल्याउनु पर्ने हो। यद्यपि, हामी नयाँ पार्टी भएर पनि आफ्नो घोषणापत्रमा अलग राज्यको मुद्दालाई शीर्ष स्थानमा राखेका छौं” वरिष्ठ अधिवक्ता लामाले भने।

Via Kalimpongpost

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‪‎GORKHALAND‬ AND GRIEVANCES OF ‪‎GORKHAS‬ IN INDIA

9:24 AM

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nepali

Writes: Tilak Dhungana

The term “GORKHA” refers to the Nepali speaking people living in India. They are spread all over the nation and have large number of population in the state of Darjeeling, Dooars, Kalimpong and Jalpaiguri districts in north-Bengal, state of Sikkim and in all the north-eastern states of India, along with a large Gorkha population in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh.

The Indian Gorkhas always identify themselves as Indian citizens. Gorkhas are a mixture of Indo-Aryan and Mongolian clans. They are peace loving people living in the entire Himalayan region. The estimated population of Gorkhas in India is 1.50 Crores.

Gorkhaland is a century long movement of Gorkhas for a separate state in India. The demand was first raised in the year 1907, after the submission of a memorandum to Minto-Morley Reforms by the Hillmen`s association of Darjeeling. The demand is yet to ve fulfilled. It is a demand of Gorkhas basically living in the area of Darjeeling and Dooars, Jalpaiguri and Kalimpong districts in North-west Bengal in the State of Bengal. The proposed area of Gorkhaland is around 3,150 sq.km. which is more than the area of state Goa. It is a demand under the section 3(A) of Indian constitution.

Akhil Bharatiya Gorkha League is said to be the first political party to demand the greater identity for Indian Gorkhas in the year 1952. Later on the movement for separate state of Gorkhaland was carried forward by Gorkha National Liberation Front(GNLF) led by Late. Subash Ghisingh in the year 1986. The demand was not fulfilled and the movement stopped after an agreement by GNLF and Govt. by the creation of Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC). In the movement 1200 people were martyred, but the Gorkhas haven`t forgotten their aim to achieve the Gorkhaland state.

As result in 2007 Gorkha Janamukti Morcha(GJM) started the movement under the leadership of Bimal Gurung. The movement gained its momentum and also gained mass support from the Gorkhas living in North Eastern states of India like: Skkim, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh etc. In that movement Manghal Singh Rajput immolated himself shouting “We Want Gorkhaland”.

The large number of Gorkhas living in Sikkim, Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh supported the agitation as the desire to see the separate state for the people who speak “GORKHA VASA or NEPALI LANGUAGE” remains a cherished dream of all the Gorkhas across India. In Assam, organizations like All Assam Gorkha Students Union (AAGSU) and Gorkha Sammelan led the mass processions in the city for the Gorkhaland. But the government of India did not respect the wishes of the Gorkha community to form a new state for Gorkhas and provide a lond due justice to them.

The Trinamol Congress (TMC) government lead by Mamata Banerjee in west Bengal is playing a divide and rule policy in the hills and Dooars to weaken the movement. During the movement slogan of “Jai Hind, Jai Gorkha” showed their patriotism to India. Thus , Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) was formed on 18 July 2011.But Gurung resigned from the GTA and renewed the movement in 2013. The burning desire to see a separate Gorkhaland state has not gone out yet from the heart of Gorkhas.

Bimal Gurung again set out for Padyatra on 3rd October 2015 to create awareness for the separate Gorkhaland state. It is also a protest against the illegal interference of state government on Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA).The governments in the states and in the central continues to discriminate against the Gorkhas by not fulfilling our one and only cherished dream.

It is the grievance of Gorkhas that in some parts of north-eastern states of India and in Darjeeling and Dooars in west Bengal they are termed as “foreigners”. It is only because they speak the language Nepali, they are not rich, most of them are not educated and they are labourers working in various farms getting law wages. How discriminating it is the term “foreigners” in the ear of Gorkhas? Have we ever imagined it? Isn’t it unconstitutional?

The Gorkhas who vigils the borders, the Gorkhas who sacrifices lives for the nation every week, the Gorkhas who feel proud identifying themselves as an Assamese, an Indian, the Gorkhas who are working whole day and night for the all round development of the nation and they are discriminated as “foreigners”.

A large numbers of people were martyred during Gorkhaland movement and the government hesitates to form a new sate GORKHALAND. The Gorkhas are living in some north-eastern states of India by rearing cows, goats on river banks. The government haven’t provided them basic needs, since the British rule they were used as labourers and discriminated cruelly. They were not educated. Those illiterate Gorkhas were only used for vote bank unknowingly and their rights were snatched. As they were the inhabitants on the bank of the river, they were swept away by flood every year. In such a condition they were shifted to another place settled in the valley and lost whatever they had.

In the year 1886 under British rule and in 1947 by the govt. of Independent India Gorkhas were given the status of protected class. But it was very discriminating that the same right was null and void by the Govt. of Assam on 27th June 1969 unilaterally. But the Gorkha Sammelan led by ex-MP Mr. Mani kr. Subba in 1993 demanded the then Hiteswar Saikia led government to implement the rights of protected class which was snatched from the Gorkhas. On 19th March 1993 the same right to the Gorkhas living in the region were given again. But the government is still throwing dust in the eyes of Gorkhas and taking some actions unilaterally, which is unconstitutional.

It is mentioned in Suguli Treaty which was signed on 2nd December 1815 that the 7000 sq.mile of land from Nepal incorporated to India. Thus, the people living in that region scattered in various parts of India and its states. It is also said that the 1815 treaty is valid and legally binding even after the Indo-Nepal friendship treaty signed in 1950. So, how long should the Gorkhas living within Indian territories fight for their identity, political right, economic development, and the educational development?

The demand of Gorkhaland is a legitimate demand. Govt. of India and it’s states should fulfill the burning aspirations of statehood for Gorkhas to protect them from the racist discrimination , to provide them the higher education and employment, to provide them various facilities for economic development, to protect them from eviction and for the all round development of the nation. People who have been living in India since time immemorial, who have a century long demand of separate state, who sacrificed their lives to dig various oil fields (like oil fields in …..Digboi, Naharkatiya, Duliajan), who settled in India on their own land under treaties signed between govt. of India and Nepal, so, how discriminating it is to call them “foreigners”?

Tilak Dhungana is from Natun Balijan, Sadiya, Assam

Via TheDC

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गोर्खाल्याण्ड माग्नेले किन विधानसभा चुनाउ लड्नु?

10:51 PM

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Politics

कालेबुङ, 1 फरवरी। विधानसभा चुनाउको निम्ति तराई-डुवर्सबाट दर्जनौ उम्मेद्वाहरु उठाउने गोर्खा जनमुक्ति मोर्चाको घोषणा छापामा आउनसाथ जन आन्दोलन पार्टीका अध्यक्ष डा. हर्कबहादुर छेत्रीले मोर्चा प्रमुख गुरूङलाई प्रश्न तेर्साएका छन्। राज्यसँग सम्बन्ध नरहेको र गोर्खाल्याण्डको माग केवल केन्द्रको हातमा मात्र रहेको दावी गर्ने मोर्चाले किन विधानसभा चुनाउ ताक्दैछ भन्ने जाप अध्यक्ष डा. छेत्रीको प्रथम प्रश्न छ। राज्य सरकारसँग कुनै प्रकारको सम्बन्ध नरहेको बताउँने दलको निम्ति विधानसभा अर्थहिन हुने बताउँदै उनले भने - जीटीएको कार्यक्रममा सरकारले हस्तक्षेप गरेको भन्दै 18 दिसम्बर 2015 मा मोर्चले विधायकहरुलाई राजीनामा दिने निर्देश दियो।

खर्साङका विधायक डा. रोहित शर्माले पार्टीको निर्देश पालन गरे। तर, दार्जीलिङका विधायक एव आन्द्रप्रदेशका भूतपूर्व मुख्य सचिव त्रिलोक देवानले विधायक पदबाट मात्र नभएर दलबाटै राजीनामा दिए। अनि प्रेस विज्ञाप्तीमा दल नेतृत्वको एकतन्त्रिक व्यवहार बताए। मैले भने दलबाट राजीनामा दिए तर, विधायक पद त्यागिन। राज्य सरकारसँग सोझै टक्करमा जाने मोर्चालाई विधायक पद बाँदरको पुच्छर हो। यो न काममा लाग्छ न हतियार नै हुनसक्छ।   पार्टी नेतृत्वहरुको व्यक्तिगत स्वर्थको मात्र मोर्चाले केवल विधानसभा पदको प्रयोग गर्ने गरेको आरोप लगाउँदै जाप अध्यक्ष डा. छेत्रीले नयाँ दल देखेर मोर्चा नेतृत्वहरुमा भयको माहौल छाएको बताएका छन्। उनले भने - कालेबुङ जिल्ला घोषणा भएपछि अनि जिल्ला माग समिति जन आन्दोलन पार्टीमा परिणत भएपछि मोर्चाले आफ्नो रणनीतिमा परिवर्तन ल्याएको छ। आज प्रसारित प्रेस विज्ञाप्तीमा मोर्चा अध्यक्ष गुरूङले दार्जीलिङ, तराई-डुवर्सबाट 16, 17 जना उम्मेद्वार उठाउने अनि त्यसमा विभिन्न धर्म र सम्प्रदयहरुलाई उम्मेद्वार बनाउने घोषणा गरे। चुनाउ अवधि मात्र मोर्चालाई तराई-डुवर्सको सम्झाना आउने बताउँदै उनले डुवर्सवासीलाई मोर्चाको राजनीतिक चलखेलदेखि सचेत हुनुपर्ने उनले आह्वान पनि गरेका छन। उनेल भने -  तराई-डुवर्सका भू-भागहरु जीटीएमा गाभ्न नसक्ने मोर्चाले किन डुवर्सलाई केवल भोट ब्यङ्को रुपमा मात्र प्रयोग गरिरहेको छ। मोर्चाको यस प्रकारको नीतिदेखि डुवर्सवासी सचेत हुन जरुरी छ। यता, चुनाउलाई लिएर मोर्चा नेतृत्वहरुले  दिइरहेको बयानले पनि पार्टीको दलीय सिद्धान्त उदाङ्गो भइसकेको बताउँदै अध्यक्ष डा. छेत्रीले भने -गुरूङको निर्णयले मोर्चाको राजनीतिक चरित्र पनि उदाङ्गो भएको छ। केही दिन अघि मात्र मोर्चा प्रमुख गुरूङले विधानसभा चुवाउमा वामफ्रन्ट र कंग्रेससँग मिलेर चुनाउ लड्नसक्ने सम्भावमा व्यक्त गरेका थिए। 27 जुलाई 1986 मा गोर्खाल्याण्ड आन्दोलनकारीहरुलाई त्यही वामफ्रन्ट सरकारले अन्धा-दुन्धा गोली हानेर 14 जनाको हत्य गरेको थियो। गोर्खाल्याण्ड आफ्नो दलको एक मात्र लक्ष्य भन्ने दलले कसरी गोर्खल्याण्ड माग्ने दलमाथी गोली बर्साउने पार्टीसँग चुनाउमा हात मिलाउन सक्छ?

गोर्खाल्याण्ड आन्दोलनलाई दवाउन चहाने राज्यको वामफ्रन्टसँग मिलेर चुनाउ लड्ने पार्टी प्रमुख गुरूङको निर्णयले पार्टीको सिद्धान्तमाथि ठूलो प्रश्न खड़ा गरेको डा. छेत्रीको भनाइ छ। उनले भने - गोर्खाल्याण्ड आन्दोलन अवधि भूतपूर्व सैनिकहरुमाथि त्यही वामफ्रन्ट सरकरले लाठ्ठीचार्ज गरेर रगतपच्छे बनाएको थियो सिलगढीको जुलूसमा। फेरि त्यहीँ दलसँग मिलेर चुनाउ लड्नु भनेको, यसबाट मोर्चाको राजनीतिमा कुनै प्रकारको नीति छैन भन्ने कुरा स्पष्ट हुन्छ।

 विधानसभामा पठाएका विधायकहरुलाई दलले राजीनामाको आदेश दिन्छ भने त्यस दललाई चुनाउमा भाग लिने कुनै औचित्य नरहने बताउँदै उनले मोर्चाको यस प्रकारको नीतिबाट आम जनतालाई कुनै प्रकारको फाइदा नपुग्ने बताएका छन्। उनले भने - यो सम्पूर्ण मोर्चाको एकल नेतृत्वको चरम अहमपूर्ण धारणा हो जसबाट जनताले केही प्राप्त गर्ने होइन।  एक व्यक्तिले कसरी आफ्नो रिस फेर्ने, व्यक्तिगत एडेन्डामा  जनतालाई प्रयोग गरिरहेको छ भन्ने कुरा प्रष्ट हुनछ।

तराई-डुवर्सको मुद्दालाई सरकारसम्म पुऱ्याउनुकोसाटो मोर्चा प्रमुख गुरूङले डुवर्सवासीलाई अझ अपठ्यारो परिस्थितिमा पारेको उनको भनाइ छ। उनले भने - यस्तो व्यक्तकेन्द्रीत र आफ्नो घमण्डलाई जनताको स्वर्थ भन्दामाथि राख्ने नेताको चरित्रसँग जनता होसियार नरहेको खण्डमा भविश्यमा पशचताप बाहेक अरु कुनै उपलब्दी जनताको हात लाग्नेछैन।

(हिमालय दर्पण)

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मोर्चालाई प्रश्न - "यदी कालेबुङको भू-भाग भुटानको हो भने मोर्चाले कसरी यहाँ छुट्टै राज्यको माग गर्नसक्छ?"

10:42 AM

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Politics

गोर्खा जनमुक्ति मोर्चा सहसचिव विनय तामाङलाई जन आन्दोलन पार्टी अध्यक्ष डा. हर्कबहादुर छेत्रीले सुझाउ दिएका छन्। मोर्चा अध्यक्ष बिमल गुरूङको बयान विवादित रहेको जापको भनाइ छ। र आज प्रकाशित दैनिक पत्रिकामा मोर्चा सहसचिव विनय तामाङले दोहोरो बयान दिएका छन्।

एउटै विषयमाथि मोर्चा अध्यक्ष गुरूङ अनि सहसचिव तामाङको डबल स्टयाण्ड कसरी हुन सक्छ?
यदी कालेबुङको भू-भाग भुटानको हो भने मोर्चाले कसरी यहाँ छुट्टै राज्यको माग गर्नसक्छ? आफ्नो ठाउँ नै नभए पछि मोर्चाले यहाँ गोर्खाल्याण्डको माग गर्नु सकिन्दैन भनेर कुरा स्पष्ट पार्नुपर्छ। मोर्चाले भारतको संसदमा पठाएको सांसदलाई फर्काउनु पर्छ। र म(डा. हर्कबहादुर छेत्र)लाई पनि भुटानको भोटले जितेर विधानसभामा गरेको हो भन्दै विधानसभाबटा फर्काउनु पर्छ। मोर्चाले दोहोरो कुरा गरिरहेको छ। जिल्ला नहुने ठाउँमा कसरी राज्य हुन्छ ? मोर्चालाई मेरो प्रश्न छ।

मोर्चा अध्यक्ष गुरूङकोमा राजनीतिक क्षमता नभएको कारण नै आज कालेबुङको भू-भागलाई लिएर मोर्चाले यस प्रकारको देश द्रोही बयान दिइरहेका छन्। गुरूङसँग केवल पार्टी महासचिव रोशन गीरि अनि सहसचिव वियन तामाङ मात्र बस्नसक्न छन्। जसले बुझेर पनि दल प्रमुखलाई यी कुरा सोध्ने आट गर्दैनन् उनीहरुमात्र मोर्चामा बस्न सक्छ। हामी सोच्ने भयो यसैले यस्तो उत्पट्याङ राजनीति गर्दैनौ। यसले जनताको भलो हुँदैन।
मोर्चाले हालमा राष्ट्राको सर्वभौमिक्तामाथि प्रश्न उठाइरहेको छ। देशको मानचित्रमा भएको ठाउँलाई मोर्चा नेतृत्वहरुले देशको होइन भन्दैछन् । यसको मतलब उनकोमा देशप्रति हुनुपर्ने बफादारी छैनरहेछ। यो मोर्चा अध्यक्षको देश द्रेही क्रियाकलाप हो। यस ठाउँलाई भारतको होइन भन्नु अघि मोर्चा अध्यक्षले 1952 सालदेखि यता निरन्तर रुपमा देशको संसद अनि विधानसभामा दार्जीलिङ पहाड़बाट उम्मेद्वारहरु पुगेको कुरालाई किन बुझ्दैनन्। हाम्रा मान्छेहरु लोकसभा अनि विधानसभामा पुगे तर, कहिले पनि कसैले यो कुरा उठाएनन्। किन भने प्रश्न उठाउने ठाउँ नै छैनन्। आफू मूर्ख भएको कारण मोर्चा अध्यक्षले सबैलाई मूर्ख देखिरहेको छ। मूर्खको नेतृत्वमा गोर्खाल्याण्ड होइन आम भारतीय गोर्खाहरुलाई नै शंकाको घेरोमा हाल्ने काम हुन्छ। उनले त प्रश्न उठायो तर, अब सम्पूर्ण भारतीय गोर्खाहरुलाई देशले शंकाको नजरले हेर्नेछ। किनभने देश भित्र बसेर हाम्रैहरुले देश द्रोहीको कुरा गरिरहेका छन् ।

Harka Bahadur Chhetri JAP

सन् 1917 सालमा पनि हिल्सम्यान एसोसिएसनले दार्जीलिङवासीको अनुहार चीनसँग मिल्ने कुरा गरेर विवाद उत्पन्न गराएको थियो। यसैको आधारमा सन् 1950 सालमा गोर्खाहरु देश प्रति बफादार नरहेको कुरा उल्लेख गर्दै प्रथम गृहमन्त्रीले पत्रचार गरेको थियो। यसैले गर्दा नेहरु कालेबुङ आउँदा कालेबुङलाई सपाइहरुको गुड़ भनेको हो। हाम्रो पार्टीले शुरूमा नै देश प्रतिको बफदार र सर्वभौमिक्तालाई प्रथमिक्ता दिएको छ। पार्टी मार्फत लेखित रुपमा यस प्रकारको विवादहरुलाई मेटाउने प्रयास भइरहेको छ। तर, यहाँ मोर्चा अध्यक्षले पुन विवाद बढाउने काम गरिरहेका छन्। यो स्थिति सबैका निम्ति खतराको शंकेत हो। देशले गोर्खाहरुलाई हेर्ने दृष्टीकोण मोर्चा अध्यक्षले बुझ्दैन। तर, उनको अज्ञान्ताको कारण आम भारतीय गोर्खाहरुलाई देशले शंकाको नजरले हेर्नेछ। । पार्टी प्रमुखको विवादित बयान प्रति समर्थकहरुले उत्साह देखाएर ताली बझाउनु हुँदैन।
आफ्नो नेताको समक्षा हेरेर नै समर्थकहरुले पनि सह्योग गर्नुपर्छ। मूर्ख नेतृत्वले जहिले पनि समस्या निमत्याउनेछ।

Via TheDC

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27 जनवरी: 'पहाडमा नयाँ सोच लिएर नयाँ राजनैतिक दल गठन हुने' - डा. छेत्री

10:50 AM

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Politics

‘27 जनवरीको उपस्थिति यस्तो होस् जुन उपस्थितिले दार्जीलिङ पहाडको नयाँ राजनैतिक अनुहार स्पष्ट हुनेछ। त्यसदिनको उपस्थितिको आभास दार्जीलिङ पहाडमा मात्र होइन तराई-डुवर्स र कोलकाता अनि दिल्लीले पनि पावोस्।’ पाब्रिङटार क्षेत्र अन्तर्गत बरबोट बजारमा आयोजित जनसभालाई सम्बोधन गर्दै विधायक डा. हर्कबहादुर छेत्रीले ग्रामीण सुदुरवर्ती क्षेत्रहरूमा पनि देखिरहेको राजनैतिक परिवर्तनको आभाष 27 जनवरीका दिन भारी सङ्ख्यमा उपस्थित भएर दर्शाउनुपर्ने आह्वान गरेका छन्।

जिल्ला माग समितिको आयोजनामा सम्पन्न जनसभालाई सम्बोधन गर्ने क्रममा छेत्रीले 27 जनवरीका दिनदेखि जिल्ला माग समितिको अन्त भएर पहाडमा नयाँ सोच लिएर नयाँ राजनैतिक दल गठन हुने भन्दै अझ भने, यो राजनैतिक परिवर्तन विगत 4 दशकदेखि क्षेत्रका जनताले भोगेको शोषण र गलत प्रशासन विरूद्ध व्यक्त भएको आक्रोश हो। यो आवाजहिनहरूले विस्तारै बोल्नथालेको लक्षण हो। यसभित्र बहुमतको आकांक्षा लुकेको छ। यसभित्र वर्षौँदेखि अन्धकारमा बसेकाहरूको आशा मात्र होइन एउटा निर्दिष्ट दिशा पनि छ। छेत्रीले 27 जनवरीको जनसभामा उपस्थिति दिन नसक्नु भनेको कवि गोपालप्रसाद रिमालले भनेझैँ ‘एक युगमा आउने एकदिन’-लाई गुमाइपठाउनु सरह रहेको बताए। याङ्माखुम, सुरूक, समथार, खानी, सिञ्जी आदि क्षेत्रका सैयौँ मानिसहरूलाई सम्बोधन गर्ने क्रममा गोजमुमोले जनआकांक्षा पूर्ण गर्न नसक्ने छेत्रीले दावी गरे। अलग राज्यप्रति मोर्चा इमान्दार नरहेको भन्दै छेत्रीले भने, यदि गोजमुमो गोर्खाल्याण्डप्रति इमान्दार छ भने जीटीए त्यागेर देखावस्। म पार्टी खोल्दिन, उनीहरूकै पछि कुद्नेछु। मोर्चालाई चौकीमा पाउने सुख-सुविधाको आदत् भइरहेको छ त्यसैले उनीहरूले चौकी छोडेर आन्दोलन गर्न सक्दैनन्।

छेत्रीले नवगठित कालेबुङ जिल्ला गोजमुमोको हाताम जान दिनुनहुने सङ्केत गर्दै भने, हामीले पाएको राम्रो चिज गलत हाताम गए बाँदरको हातमा नरिवल सरह हुनसक्छ। गोरामुमोले दागोपाप ल्यायो अनि गोजमुमोले जीटीए ल्यायो। यी व्यवस्थाहरू परिवर्तन भइरहन्छ तर हामीले ल्याएको कालेबुङ जिल्ला गोर्खाल्याण्ड नै गठन भएपनि सँधै अस्तिवामा रहिरहन्छ। सरकार हाम्रो दुश्मन छैन. दुष्मन हाम्रो सोच हो। हामीले ठिकसँगले चलाउन सक्नुपर्छ।

पश्चिम बङ्गाल राज्यको बार्षिक बजेट 49 हजार करोड रुपियाँको तयार हुँदा जीटीएले केवल 178 करोड रूपियाँको मात्र माग गरेकोमा व्यङ्ग कस्दै छेत्रीले भने, जीटीएको बजेट कन्ट्र्याक्टरले बनाउँछ, सभासद् र विशेषज्ञहरूले होइन। आजसम्म हामीसित दुर्दर्शी नेताहरू नभएका कारण नै हामीले दुःख पाएका हौँ। नत्र बङ्गालको बजेटमा कम्तिमा पनि 35 सय करोड पहाडको निम्ति माग गर्न सकिन्थ्यो। डा. छेत्रीले कालेबुङ जिल्लालाई ठिकसित सञ्चालन गरेर लानुपर्ने सुझाउ राख्दै कालेबुङ जिल्लालाई गलत हातमा जानबाच बचाउन पनि नयाँ दल गठन गर्न आवश्यक परेको बताए। उनले भने, जबसम्म दल बनाएर निस्किँदैनौँ तबसम्म कालेबुङ जिल्लाई सशक्त रूपमा अघि लैजान सक्दैनौँ। यसैले नयाँ दलको गठन आवश्यक परेको हो।

आफ्नो सम्बोधनमा छेत्रीले कालेबुङ जिल्ला पूर्ण रूपमा कृषिजन्य जिल्लाको रूपमा स्थापित हुने बताउँदै भने, दार्जीलिङ जिल्लामा सबथोक छ। विश्वविद्यालय छ, हवाईअड्डा छ, रेलवे जंक्सन छ, मेडिकल कलेज छ। दुर्भाग्यवश दार्जीलिङ जिल्लामा भएपनि जिल्लामा हुनुपर्ने कुराहरू जम्मै सिलगढीमा छ। अब कालेबुङ जिल्ला छुट्टिएपछि कालेबुङ जिल्लाभित्र हुनुपर्ने जम्मै कुरा हामी माग गर्नसक्छौँ। केन्द्रको व्याकवार्ड रिजन ग्रान्ट फन्टबाट यी सबै विकासमूलक कामहरू गर्न सकिने छेत्रीको सोच रहेको छ।

हाल सिक्किम प्रधानमन्त्री नरेद्र मोदीको भ्रमणलाई केन्द्र गर्दै छेत्रीले भने, सिक्किममा एकजना पनि भाजपा सासंद छैनन्। भाजपाको सङ्गठन छैन। तरैपनि पवन कुमार चामलिङले राजनीति गर्न जान्दछन्, कुटनीति बुझ्छन्। यसैले सिक्किममा प्रधानमन्त्रीलाई ल्याउन सके। तर दार्जीलिङबाट भाजपाको निम्ति दुईजना सासंद जिताएर पठाएपनि प्रधामन्त्रीलाई सिक्किम आउँदा दार्जीलिङसम्म ल्याउन नसकेकोमा छेत्रीले खेद प्रकट गरे।

उनले अझ भने, ‘तिमीहरू चिया बनाउने, म बेच्ने भनेर नरेन्द्र मोदीले भनेका थिए। म साक्षी छु। उनले चियाको बोर्ड मात्र किन मन्त्रालय नै बनाउनुपर्छ भनेका थिए। तर भएन। स्थानीय नेतृत्वहरूले दैलो नदेखेर भित्ता ढकढकाउने गरेको कारण नै यी समस्याहरू उत्पन्न भइरहेको छेत्रीको आरोप रहेको छ।
सबैभन्दा धैर गोजमुमो अनि जीटीएको कार्यप्रणालीमाथि नै असन्तुष्टि व्यक्त गर्दै छेत्रीले आफूले जुन मागहरू उठान गरिरहेको छ त्यही मागहरू मोर्चाले पनि माग्न शुरू गरेको बताए। उनले भने, मोर्चा मेरो विद्यार्थी होला जस्तो लाग्दैछ। किनभने मोर्चाले मेरोबाट सिक्दैछ, मैले उठाएको माग उठाउँदैछ। मैले जिल्लाको माग उठाए मोर्चाले अरू थुप्रै जिल्ला हुनुपर्छ भन्दैछ। सक्छ भने खरसाङलाई जिल्ला बनाएर देखावोस्, सक्दैन भने सक्दिन भनेर मलाई मगावोस्। टिस्टाभेल्ली सरह धेरै ठाउँहरूमा मोर्चाका नेतृत्वहरूले जनहितमा काम गर्न नसकेकै कारण आफूलाई त्यस क्षेत्रमा नेतृत्वका निम्ति निम्त्याइने काम भइरहेको छेत्रीले बताए।

यदि ठिकठाउँमा ठिकसित माग्न सकियो भने धेरैवटा थोक हासिल गर्नसिकिने कुराको प्रमाण कालेबुङ जिल्लाले दिएको डा. छेत्रीको तर्क छ। यसैले हाल कलेक्टरेटका निम्ति कालेबुङमा जमीन खोज्ने काम आरम्भ भइसकेको जानकारी गराउँदै छेत्रीले कालेबुङले धेरैथोक पाउन सकेको बताए।

केही दिनअघि जनताको नाममा टाँसिएको पोष्टरबारे बोल्दै छेत्रीले अधिवक्ता अनमोल प्रसादले 145 पन्ने दस्तावेज तयार पारेर केन्द्रमा पेश गर्दा नै छैटौँ अनूसूचित रद्द भएको कारण गोजमुमो अस्तिवमा आउनसकेको भएपनि आज अनमोल प्रसादहरूलाई नै बङ्गालको दलाल भन्ने मोर्चाले उनीहरूको योगदानको कदर गर्न नसकेको आरोप लगाए। आफ्नो सम्बोधनमा छेत्रीले क्षेत्रीय समस्याहरूबारे चर्चा गर्दै जिल्ला पूर्ण रूपमा अस्तिवमा आएपछि आफ्नो दलको माध्मयबाट क्षेत्रमा धेरै विकासमूलक कार्यहरू गर्नसकिने बताए। आजसम्म जनताले आफूसँग मात्र बात गर्ने नेतृत्वहरू छानेको कारण नै समस्या उत्पन्न भएको कारण अब सरकारसित बात गर्नसक्ने नेतृत्व छान्नुपर्ने छेत्रीको सुझाउ रहेको थियो। यसरी नै अर्कोतिर जिल्ला माग समितिका संयोजक नयन प्रधानले अब जनतामा आतङ्क सृजना गरेर राजनीति गर्ने संस्कारको अन्त भइसकेका कारण नयाँ दलले बौधितक राजनीति गर्ने बताए।

उनले भने, अहिलसम्म विभिन्न राजनैतिक दलहरू आए। गोर्खाल्याण्डको नाममा भाषण दिएर गए। भोट मागे। तर जनताको समस्या समाधान भएन। अब जनताको समस्या बुझ्ने बुद्धिजीवि नेतृत्वलाई साथ दिनुपर्छ। उनले बरबोट-निम्बोङ क्षेत्राम खण्ड, पञ्चायत आदिको गठन ठिकसित नभएका कारण ग्रामीण स्तरहरूकै यी सबै निकायहरूको नयाँ गरी विकेन्द्रिकरण गरिन जरूरी रहेको बताए।

Source TheDC

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Facts about Gurkhas or rather Gorkhas

7:06 PM

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nepali

1) Gurkha is spelled as Gorkha in Nepali, the correct way to pronounce it (Gor-kha).

2) Gorkha is a Sanskrit word which means Protector of Cows, Gau(Cow)+Rakha(Protector)=Gorkha.

3) Gorkha is one of the 75 districts of modern Nepal. It is a misconception that the Gurkhas took their name from the Gorkha region of Nepal. The region was given its name after the Gurkhas had established their control of these areas. In the early 1500s some of Bappa Rawal's descendants went further east, and conquered a small state in present-day Nepal, which they named Gorkha in honour of their patron saint.

4) The Gorkha war cry is "Jai Mahakali, Ayo Gorkhali" (Hail Great Goddess Kali, Here Comes Gorkhali)

5) Gorkha are people from Nepal and North East India who take their name from the eighth century Hindu warrior-saint Guru Gorakhnath. His disciple Bappa Rawal, born Prince Kalbhoj/Prince Shailadhish, founded the house of Mewar. Later descendants of Bappa Rawal moved further east to found the house of Gorkha, which in turn founded the Kingdom of Nepal.

6) The Gurkhas were designated by the British as a Martial Race. Martial Race is a designation created by officials of British India to describe "races" (peoples) that were thought to be naturally warlike and aggressive in battle, and to possess qualities like courage, loyalty, self sufficiency, physical strength, resilience, orderliness, hard working, fighting tenacity and military strategy. The British recruited heavily from these Martial Races for service in the colonial army.

7) Gurkhas claim descent from the Hindu Rajputs and Brahmins of Northern India, who entered modern Nepal from the west. Guru Gorkhanath had a Rajput Prince-disciple, the legendary Bappa Rawal, born Prince Kalbhoj, founder of the house of Mewar, who became the first Gurkha and is said to be the ancestor of the present Royal family of Nepal.

8) The legend states that Bappa Rawal was a teenager in hiding, when he came upon the warrior saint while on a hunting expedition with friends in the jungles of Rajasthan. Bappa Rawal chose to stay behind, and care for the warrior saint, who was in deep meditation. When Guru Gorkhanath awoke, he was pleased with the devotion of Bappa Rawal. The Guru gave him the Kukri knife, the famous curved dagger of the present day Gurkhas. The legend continues that he told Bappa that he and his people would henceforth be called Gurkhas, the disciples of the Guru Gorkhanath, and their bravery would become world famous. He then instructed Bappa Rawal, and his Gorkhas to stop the advance of the Muslims, who were invading Afghanistan (which at that time was a Hindu/Buddhist nation). Bappa Rawal took his Gurkhas and liberated Afghanistan - originally named Gandhar, from which the present day Kandahar derives its name. He and his Gorkhas stopped the initial Islamic advance of the 8th century in the Indian subcontinent for the time being.
There are legends that Bappa Rawal (Kalbhoj) went further conquering Iran and Iraq before he retired as an ascetic at the feet of Mt. Meru, having conquered all invaders and enemies of his faith.

9) It is a misconception that the Gurkhas took their name from the Gorkha region of Nepal. The region was given its name after the Gurkhas had established their control of these areas. In the early 1500s some of Bappa Rawal's descendants went further east, and conquered a small state in present-day Nepal, which they named Gorkha in honour of their patron saint.

10) By 1769, through the leadership of Sri Panch (5) Maharaj Dhiraj Prithvi Narayan Shahdev (1769-1775), the Gorkha dynasty had taken over the area of modern Nepal. They made Hinduism the state religion, although with distinct Rajput warrior and Gorkhanath influences. Thus the modern Nepal as we know it today was created as one nation, one kingdom.

11) A Gurkha can be of any caste, creed or race (since there are racial variations in Nepal) but only a Hindu (that includes Nepalese Buddhists) can be a Gurkha, since it is de rigueur that one believes in the teachings of Guru Gorkhanath and the Warrior code of the Ancient Hindus. Without these teachings one cannot develop the mindset, spirit, essence and soul of a Gurkha. 

12) Although Hinduism is a general term encompassing a wide variety of faiths in the sub-continent, both Vedic and non-Vedic, it is worth mentioning that the Bon religion, an animistic, shamanistic faith is also practised by certain ethnic tribes that have also become encompassed and brought into the circle of the Gorkhas and thus should also be noted as being part of the Gorkhali culture.)

13) In the Gurkha War (1814–1816) they waged war against the British East India Company army. The British were impressed by the Gurkha soldiers and after reaching a stalemate with the Gurkhas and making Nepal a protectorate they were granted the right to hire them as mercenaries organised in Gurkha regiments in the East India Company army with the permission of then prime minister, Shree Teen (3) Maharaja (Maharana) Jung Bahadur Rana, the first Rana Prime-minister who initiated a Rana oligarchic rule in Nepal. Originally Jung Bahadur and his brother Ranodip Singh brought a lot of upliftment and modernisation to Nepalese society, the abolishment of slavery, upliftment of the untouchable class, public access to education etc. but these dreams were short lived when in the coup d'etat of 1885 the nephews of Jung Bahadur and Ranodip Singh (the Shumsher family or Satra (17) Family, later to be known as S.J.B. or Shumsher J.B.) murdered Ranodip Singh and the sons of Jung Bahadur and took control of Nepal bringing one of the darkest periods of Nepalese history (104 years of dictatorial rule). This Shumsher Rana rule is regarded as one of the reasons of Nepal lagging behind in modern development and a dark age of Nepalese History. The children of Jung Bahadur and Ranodip Singh mainly live outside of Kathmandu, in Nepal and mainly in India after escaping the coup d'etat of 1885. Relations among family members have now normalized.

14) The Gurkhas from reputed families refused to enter as soldiers and were instead given positions as officers in the British-Indian armed forces. The common peasant/farmer/village Gurkhas entered as soldiers. One Gurkha, the Great Great Grandson of Sri Teen Maharaja Jung Bahadur, was entered as officers, (retired) General Narendra Bahadur Singh, Gorkha Rifles, rose to become aide-de-camp (A.D.C.) to Lord Mountbatten, the last Viceroy of India, when he was only a young Captain in the British Indian Army. After the British left India Gorkhalis continued seeking employment in British and Indian forces, as officers and soldiers, as well as maintaining the sovereignty of their nation.

15) Under international law present-day British Gurkhas are not treated as mercenaries but are fully integrated soldiers of the British Army, operate in formed units of the Brigade of Gurkhas, and abide by the rules and regulations under which all British soldiers serve. Similar rules apply for Gurkhas serving in the Indian Army.

16) “As I write these last words, my thoughts return to you who were my comrades, the stubborn and indomitable peasants of Nepal. Once more I hear the laughter with which you greeted every hardship. Once more I see you in your bivouacs or about your fires, on forced march or in the trenches, now shivering with wet and cold, now scorched by a pitiless and burning sun. Uncomplaining you endure hunger and thirst and wounds; and at the last your unwavering lines disappear into the smoke and wrath of battle. Bravest of the brave, most generous of the generous, never had country more faithful friends than you". -Professor Sir Ralph Turner, MC, who served with the 3rd Queen Alexandra's Own Gurkha Rifles in the First World War

17) "For over 180 years the Gurkhas have helped to fight Britain's wars and keep the peace. They have won 13 Victoria Crosses and served in most of the major conflicts of the 20th Century." (The Victoria Cross is the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.)

18) "If there was a minute's silence for every Gurkha casualty from World War 2 alone, we would have to keep quiet for two weeks

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NAMO - orchid named after Narendra Modi in Sikkim

7:27 AM

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Sikkim

Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling named a new orchid variety, Cymbidium Namo, in honour of Prime Minister Modi, on Monday.

Pawan Kumar Chamling of the Sikkim Democratic Front, who has been Sikkim Chief Minister since 1994, is the state’s most popular leader ever. 

Modi, who visited Sikkim on Monday, unveiled three new Orchid varieties developed in Sikkimat a flower show. 

He named the first two after his personal heroes – Sardar Patel and Deendayal Upadhyaya. They wll be known from now on as Cymbidium Sardar and Lycaste Deendayal.

Pawan Kumar Chamling named the third flower Cymbidium Namo.

Cymbidium or boat orchid comprises of 52 evergreen species. They bloom during the winter, and each plant can have up to fifteen or more flowers. 

The genus offers a wide rang of colours including white, green, yellowish-green, cream, yellow, brown, pink, and red.

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गोर्खा राष्टिय मुक्ति मोर्चाको अधक्ष्य मन घिसिंङ्गलाई मिरिक सैरेनी अनि पानीघट्टामा भब्य स्वागत

12:38 PM

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nepali

- दीप मिलन प्रधान

गोर्खा राष्टिय मुक्ति मोर्चाको अधक्ष्य मन घिसिंङ्गलाई मिरिक सैरेनी अनि पानीघट्टामा भब्य स्वागत जनायो । गोरामुमोले जनताको समर्थन जुटाउंको लागि आज देखि समस्टी भ्रमण शुरू गरे I गोरामुमोको तत्कालिन सुप्रिमो स्वर्गीय सुबास घिसिंगको समस्टी मिरिकमा आज उनको छोरा अनि पार्टी को वर्तमान अध्यक्ष मन घिसिंगले समस्टी भ्रमण शुभारम्भ गर्यो I

समस्टी भ्रमणको क्रममा आज बिहान पार्टीको समस्त कार्यकर्ताहरुले सडकको दुई किनारमा लामो मनीसहरुको भीड़ले उनलाई माला अर्पण गर्दै ,जय गोर्खा जय सुबास,जय मन घिसिंगको नारा लगाउँदै पार्टी कार्यकर्तहरु र गोरमोमु समर्थकहरु मिरिक बज़ार को परिक्रमा गर्यो अनि र बज़ार अवस्थित सुकक्रता भवनमा एक स्वागत सभामा परिणत भए पछि उनले सौरेनी समस्टीमा पनि मानिसहरुको अभिवादन स्वीकार गर्दै यसरी नै गोरामुमोको गड मानिने तराईको पानीघाटा बजारमा आयोजित जनसभामा पुगी जनसभामा सम्बोधन गर्दै पार्टीको अध्यक्ष मन घिसिंगले पार्टीको एक मात्र उदेश्य समस्त गोर्खा जातिको संबैधानिक व्यवस्था प्रदान गर्नु को तर, वर्तमान समयमा दार्जिलिंग पहाडमा यस्तो राजनीति भैरहेको छ कि,गोर्खाल्याण्ड मागी खाने भाड़ा झै बनाएको आरोप लगाउदै उनले भने की, गोर्खा जाति भीख माग्ने जाति होइन तर यहाँको सत्तारुड दलले गोर्खाल्याण्ड मागी खाने भाड़ा बनाएको छ छठी अनुसूची जस्तो संबैधानिक व्यवस्था प्राप्तिको लागि पहाडको जनता एकजुट भै अघि बढ्ने आवश्यकता हुनुमा जोर दियो I

गोर्खा राष्टिय मुक्ति मोर्चाको अधक्ष्य मन घिसिंङ्गलाई मिरिक सैरेनी अनि पानीघट्टामा भब्य स्वागत

घिसिंगले मुख्य वक्ताको रुपमा सम्बोधित गर्दै भने कि,गोर्खा जातिको सपनालाई साकार गर्ने समय आईसकेको छ आफ्नो अप्पाको सपना पनि पूरा गर्ने समय आएको दावी गरे I उनले ,जीटिए जस्तो असंबैधानिक व्यवस्था लिएर गोर्खाको सपना अधुरो राख्ने सड्यन्त्र देखि जनता होशियार रहने आवहान गरे Iपानीघाटा शाखा अध्यक्ष सचित गहतराजको अध्यक्षतामा सम्पन्न जनसभालाई सम्बोधित गर्दै घिसिंगले भने पहाड को सड्यन्त्रको जाल देखि मुक्त हूनको लागी समस्त पहाडको जनता सचेत भै छ्टौ अनुसूची लागू गर्नको लागि केन्द्र सरकारलाई बाध्य बनाउने जोड़ दिए I

युद्द छेत्रीले संचालन गरेको जनसभामा अन्य वक्ताहरुले छ्टौ अनुसूची जस्तो संबैधानिक व्यवस्थाको लगी जनताको समर्थन महत्वपूर्ण छ भन्दै असंबैधानिक जीटीए व्यवस्था थापने गोजमुमो गोर्खा बिरोधी नीतिको तीब्र आलोचना गर्दै जनता होसियार हुनु जरुरि छ भनि बताए I यहाँ मिरिक देखि आज शुरु भएको समस्टी भ्रमण मा पार्टीकर्मठ सदस्य एव अधिवक्ता निरज जिम्बा ,लगायत ऋषि थापा, -ट्रेड युनियन के केन्द्रीय महासचिव बालकृष्ण शर्मा ,कर्सियांग ब्रान्च कमिटिको सचिव रबिन लामा ,अनि अन्यले पनि बक्तब्य राखे I

[फोटो:दिप मिलन प्रधान अनि सचित घतराज ]
Via TheDC

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Academics and Social Leaders Against Non-Inclusion of Nepali in WBCS

4:37 PM

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West Bengal

FINALLY: Academics and Social Leaders Speak Out Against Non-Inclusion of Nepali as an Optional Subject in WBCS

The issue of non-inclusion of Nepali as an optional subject in WBCS has finally seemed to woken up academics and social leaders in the Hills, with people from various strata of the society speaking out against this blatant act of discrimination against our language.

Speaking to the Press, Prof. Sanjay Bista of Kalimpong college said, “this is politics of the most foul kind that despite Nepali being recognized as a National language of India, West Bengal government has continued to deprive Nepali students from writing the highest examination in the state in our language.”

He further said, “If they can include a dead language like Pali or even Arabic, why can’t they include Nepali as an optional paper? This is not only discrimination; it is also injustice towards thousands of our youth who study Nepali as honours or elective subjects in their graduate courses. The Bengal government has deliberately left out Nepali in order to keep the Nepali speaking people subjugated.”

Mr. Bal Bhadra Sharma of Nepali Sahitya Adhayan Samity also protested against the non-Inclusion and stated, “this is a conspiracy by the Bengal government to undermine our language and our people... what is happening is not right and all our people need to speak out against this discrimination.”

Prof. Sanjay Bista of Kalimpong

Registering his protest, Bhasa Andolan stalwart Mr. J B Rai stated, “Incidents such as this reflect the true nature of Bengal government. It is the right of any community whose language is recognized to be able to appear for that paper, in not allowing Nepali speaking students from writing an optional paper in our language betrays the inherent racism that Bengal feels towards Nepali people from the hills.”

Mr. Rai also rued the fact that Hill politicians were not taking up this issue seriously, and said, “Language is important, but politicians don’t see merit in raking up issues that is not going to get them mass support, so they have conveniently skirted this issue and have failed to speak out against this discrimination... In fact our politicians have never spoken out against these important issues.”

Highlighting the good rapport that current Kalimpong MLA Dr. Harka Bahadur Chettri shares with Bengal government, Mr. Rai said, “The Kalmlong MLA is very close to the Bengal government he needs to place this issue with them and get this resolved at the earliest... We cannot continue to allow the Bengal government to impose Linguistic discrimination and imperialism anymore.”

Kalimpong Lawyer Mr. DN Pandey suggested taking the legal route and said, “to be able to appear for Nepali as an optional paper is our Fundamental right, as Nepali is recognized under the VIIIth Scheduled of our constitution... and non-inclusion of Nepali till date shows the government apathy towards us... we cannot remain quiet anymore we have to speak... But the lead in this case needs to be taken up by the students and student organizations... we have to hit the streets in protest if necessary... and if all of that doesn’t work, then we have to go to the courts and demand that Bengal uphold our rights.... Under Article 266 of our Constitution, this is one of our basic rights and we can go to the Supreme Court if need arises.”

Once again, we request all our readers, politicians, social elders and students to kindly speak out and protest against this discrimination.

Source : TheDC

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Dr. Rohit Sharma on Non-Inclusion of Nepali as Optional Paper in WBCS

9:28 AM

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West Bengal

"Non-Inclusion of Nepali as Optional Paper in WBCS Reflects Bengal's Attitude Towards the Hill People" - Dr. Rohit Sharma.

Slamming the non-inclusion of Nepali as an Optional paper in WBCS, former Kurseong MLA Dr. Rohit Sharma has called for collaborative protests against this blatant act of discrimination. 

Speaking to the Press, Dr. Sharma stated, "I raised this issue in the legislature numerous times, I raised this issue with Mamata Banerjee, with the Home Secretary, with the Chief Secretary and Chairman of PSC West Bengal, and every time I raised this issue, they assured me that in 2016 WBCS examinations, Nepali will be added as an optional paper. But look at this, once again they have deceived the hill people and neglected our concerns... this shows the discrimination that we have to suffer... I condemn this whole heartedly."

Last year Dr. Sharma had placed three demands in the legislature:

1. Introduction of Nepali as an Optional paper in WBCS
2. Appointment of a Gorkha intellectual as a member of the West Bengal PSC, in order to ensure fairness of the interview process, and
3. Shifting of WBCS mains examination center from the plains to the hills, so that the hill students do not have to suffer.

Despite repeated assurances from Bengal government officials, none of these demands have been fulfilled. 

Dr. Sharma stated, "The blatant discrimination against our language and our people needs to be condemned widely and all the hill people should speak against this with one voice..."

He further said that, "I will continue to fight for this cause and I will not rest till the demands I have met are fulfilled."

It is a matter of great sadness that other than Dr. Rohit Sharma no one else has spoken out against this issue. From "intellectuals" like Dr. Mahendra P Lama to Dr. Harka Bahadur Chettri... from political parties like GNLF to CPRM and ABGl, no one has even said a word against this issue. 

Forget public figures, even the students organizations such as GJVM, SFI, NSUI, Chattra Parishad or Youth organizations like GJYM, DYFI, Youth Congress, TMC Youth no one has spoken out.

Via TheDC

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Nepali Again Not Included as an Optional Paper in WBCS

7:52 AM

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WBCS

This is why we NEED ‪‎Gorkhaland‬ Nepali Again Not Included as an Optional Paper in WBCS

Writes Upendra for TheDC

Insanity is often described as “doing the same thing over and over, and expecting different results,” going by this definition people in Darjeeling are certifiably insane, not all but those who side with Bengal and hope time and again that Bengal will treat them differently.

Here is the news flash – they won’t.

Last year in February we had highlighted the fact that despite Nepali being one of the National Languages of India, in West Bengal, Nepali was not placed as an optional paper for West Bengal Civil Services.

Thanks to our readers, there was enough outrage, leading the Darjeeling MP Mr. SS Ahluwalai had raised this issue in the Parliament.

The then Kurseong MLA Dr. Rohit Sharma to take up the case of including Nepali as an optional paper in WBCS, and he tried his best, we have it on record that he raised the issue in the Bengal legislature, he raised the issue with Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, with the Education Minister of Bengal and also with the Chief Secretary and the Education Secretary of Bengal. All of these people assured and reassured Dr. Sharma and through him the Nepali speaking people that in 2016 Nepali will be included as an optional paper.

However, this year again, Bengal has conveniently left out Nepali from the list of optional papers that people can appear for [Details: http://bit.ly/1SJQ1Zk]

Last year when we had raised this issue, some of our “intellectuals” had questioned our motive and said, “It’s not an important issue.” Well may be not for the “intellectuals”, but for ordinary people like us, it is a matter of great significance. There are two issues here:

1. DISCRIMINATION 
In Darjeeling hills, Dooars and Terai each year thousands of students take up Nepali as an Honours or Elective subject, which means they specialize in Nepali. So when students are not allowed to pick up Nepali as an optional subject in WBCS, all these students are discriminated against, all these students are not allowed to be examined in the subject that is their strongest suit. Given which, the students do not stand a chance to compete to the best of their abilities, and these will forever continue to remain marginalized and treated as 2nd class.

The WBCS Main Examination consists of five Compulsory papers and two optional subjects – only one optional subject if applying for Group C and/or Group D – which the candidates have to choose from, from the list of given Optional Subjects.

For each optional subjects the candidates have to write two papers of 100 marks each.

This is where the Nepali students are discriminated against.

Say if someone took Nepali (Honours) or Nepali Elective in undergraduate or Masters level, and wanted to write IAS or WBCS, his/her natural choice of Optional Subject could obviously be Nepali.

While in IAS examination Nepali is included as an optional subject, but in WBCS you cannot select Nepali as an Optional paper.

Whereas, students who have studied English, Bengali, Hindi, Sanskrit, Urdu and Santhali – languages which are used in West Bengal, and even those who study Pali – which is declared as a dead language, or foreign languages such as Arabic, Persian, French have to face no such discrimination, and they can choose any of these languages as an Optional paper.

Sadly, the current format of WBCS leaves the Nepali speaking population of the Darjeeling hill region, Terai, Dooars and rest of West Bengal at a disadvantage.

In Bengal, Nepalis are ethnically the largest minorities, and by not including Nepali while including a dead language – Pali and three foreign languages Arabic, Persian and French which only a handful of students may learn each year, the Bengal government has shown that it treats us, and will continue to treat us as 2nd or 3rd class citizens.

For this reason, it is the DUTY of every Nepali speaking Indian, as well as equality and justice loving Indians to protest against this blatant act of discrimination on the part of West Bengal.

2. OUR RIGHTS
Language is what defines us, and gives us an identity, which is why our elders fought to get Nepali included as one of the national languages of India. However, despite the fact that Nepali has been recognized under the VIIIth scheduled of our Constitution since 1992, our language is still treated as 2nd class in Bengal. This translates to the fact that WE – the Nepali speaking have been, are, and will continue to remain a 2nd class citizen in Bengal.

Coming back to the point on insanity, I have a question for Hill Trinmool leaders, and also for Dr. Harka Bahadur Chettri who seems to be best friends with TMC regime, and those who are supporting TMC due to Development boards... don’t you guys feel even a little ashamed or sad to see our community being discriminated against this way? Do you guys seriously think and feel that Bengal will treat you all with respect and as an equal? Don’t you think you guys should speak out against such forms of discrimination with one voice?

इतिहास सक्छि छ, बंगालले हामीलाई हेला गरेको, हामीलाई हेपेको, हामीलाई कान्छी आमा को छोरा-छोरि जस्तै गरि छुट्टाको... तर पनि किन तपाईंहरु बंगाल कोइ पछी कुदी रहनु हुन्छ? Isn’t what you all are doing, insanity? Even your children will suffer as a consequence, please do reflect on these facts.

To GJM and other hill oppositions, it is high time you all spoke out against this blatant act of discrimination. Last year all of you people remained quiet, including not even a peep from the Gorkha Janmukti Vidhyarthi Morcha. We hope that this year, all of you won’t remain quiet, and protest against WE – the Gorkhalis being treated as a 2nd class citizens.

Some of our readers pointed out last year that “if we want Gorkhaland then why should we care about WBCS?” We should care because, as long as Bengal refuses to allow Gorkhaland to be formed, it is their duty to treat us as equal citizens, and by repeatedly undermining our language they have time and again proven that for them we will always remain “Ora – the others.”

This incident is clear, very clear indication of why we not just want, but NEED Gorkhaland statehood.

बंगाल साँचै हाम्रो चिहान हो... बंगालमा हामी बस्नु सक्दैनौं !!

[Links from last year reports: http://on.fb.me/1YUOBivand http://on.fb.me/1uFs9ip andhttp://on.fb.me/1YUOHqm andhttp://on.fb.me/19gil4L and http://on.fb.me/1RAydkY]

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MAJORITY PEOPLE OF SIKKIM ARE GORKHA - GAC

7:54 PM

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nepali

The Nepali language of today were previously known as Parvate, Gorkha or Khas Kura before it was changed to Nepali in 1920s in Nepal by Nepali Government and in the year 1932 in India after the Calcutta University gave its consent to change Parvate/Gorkhali language to “Nepali” without understanding the impact of it on people residing in India, in days to come. After the consent from Calcutta University all textbooks, stories, poems and all literary work started to use word “Nepali” to denote the language and common people mistook it as community in India. Gradually, the word “Nepali” is started to define the Gorkha/Nepali speaking people creating lots of misconception regarding their community and citizenship leading to confusion among the Indian psyche as word “Nepali” means a citizen of Nepal.
Post Independence of India from British Rule in 1947. India and Nepal signed a treaty of peace and friendship in 1950. As per the treaty the nationals of one country gets the same privileges as that of the other in the matter of residence, ownership of property, participation in trade and commerce, movement and other privileges of a similar nature. The reciprocal treaty allowed the nationals of one country to enjoy all the rights as that of the other, except the right of citizenship or political rights (voting). It was a treaty of peace and friendship between two nations and has immensely helped Nepal and India to grow as stronger neighbours.
However, this treaty brought in lots of misconceptions regarding the citizenship of certain classes of people residing across the Darjeeling Hills in West Bengal, Sikkim, Assam, Manipur in the east to Dehradun and Uttarakhand in the west who shared similar culture, tradition and language with the citizens of Nepal. Owing to clarify such misconceptions the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India on the 23rd August 1988, vide notification no. 96011/6/88—IC-1 issued a notification and the notification reads: – whereas it has come to the notice of the Central Government that there have been some misconceptions about the Citizenship at the commencement of the Constitution of India of certain classes of person commonly known as Gorkhas.(copy enclosed) It seems that Central Government felt it necessary to clear such misconception on national interest and in the interest of genuine, patriotic, law abiding citizen of India. Indian Government is clear about the communities that those who were calling themselves “Nepali” as community must use word “Gorkha” to clear such misconceptions regarding their Citizenship.
Gorkha community includes Indo-Aryan castes like Bahun, Chettri, Thakuri, Kami, Damai, Sarki etc. and the Mongolian group like Gurung, Magar, Newar, Tamang, Thami, Bhujel (Khawas), Rai (Khambu), Limboo (Subba), Sunuwar (Mukhia), Yakha (Dewan), Sherpa, Yolmo, Kagatey etc.
Even after the clarification of Home Ministry on the issue of community and citizenship way back in 1988 people of Sikkim were never sensitised on it. The ignorance went up to the extent that the people of Sikkim thought that the notification is for the Gorkhas residing beyond Sikkim only.
Hence, in order to clarify on the issue of community and citizenship, Gorkha Apex Committee had filed an application under RTI Act 2005 asking the Home Ministry whether the notification of 1988 applies to the people of Sikkim. The Foreigners Division of Ministry of Home Affairs has replied that the notification applies to all who fits in the definition of Gorkha. (Copy of reply enclosed).
Therefore, it is now utmost important for the people of Sikkim to understand the difference between community and citizenship. It is further to note here, that Shri. Kiren Rijiju, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs have recently assured the Tribal status for Gorkha Community within the month of December 2015. In his statement he has clearly said that the Tribal Status is not just for the Gorkhas of Sikkim and Darjeeling but for the entire Gorkha Community residing across India. From the statement of Kiren Rijiju it is clear that the majority people of Sikkim are Gorkhas. Now,it is evident that the continuous representations made to Union leaders by Gorkha Apex Committee have finally paid off. The Gorkha Apex Committee extends its gratitude to Central Leadership for their fore sightedness which has helped clarify the looming misconceptions in the state of Sikkim.
Such clarification from Ministry of Home Affairs and assurance of Tribal Status to Gorkha Community have provided us an opportunity to correct our historical mistake regarding community and citizenship, therefore, Gorkha Apex Committee shall reach out to every nook and corner to sensitise the common people of Sikkim on the same. We hope, that the leaders of Sikkim will refrain themselves from misleading the people of Sikkim from now on.

Source: VOS

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